As with any other reason for parting with your hard earned cash, it pays to shop around. In our neighbourhood, there had been many other properties that had been extended in some shape or form so our first port of call was to ask them, "Would you recommend your builders?". A recommendation from a happy customer is the best from of direct marketing that any builder (or any business for that matter) could ask for, especially if that builder has worked on a property of similar age and design to yours.
Recommendations from your architect are also good as they would have a history of working with your architect and an understanding of how he/she thinks.
Ideally you would want to get at least three building firms to provide you with a written quote. Providing them with architects drawings, materials to be used, disposal of waste, landscaping etc. will assist the contractors in giving you a more accurate quote. We contacted 5 contractors and provided them all with the same detailed information. Of the 5 we contacted:
- 2 were recommendations
- 2 actually called us back to arrange a site visit
- 3 posted us their quotes saying they were an "estimate" only
- The quotes varied in price by about 20%
- Only one thanked us for giving them the opportuinity to tender for the build, visited our home on 3 separate occasions and challenged certain design attributes which ultimately reduced the cost of the build
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